They are rushing together

N just started his sixth quarter of school.  For the previous five he's been asked to join the Ima Really Smarta Fraternity.  Okay, I'm not sure that's really their name, but it sounds good.  He gets an official letter after each quarter.  Because he's not sure if they host Mt. Dew keggers, he's been reluctant to join.

Instead he studies.  I'm really proud of how much time he devotes to school work.  I think it's safe to say he's spent more time in the last 6ish quarter than he did his entire high school career.  He's actually working toward being the President of Ima Really Smarta Fraternity.  Then he could determine exactly how many Mt. Dew keggers they would host.  I think his plans also include jackets with cool symbols and perhaps a motorcycle gang. 

In addition to the high ambitions of being a fraternity President, he's also a mentor to Zoe.  This weekend he was doing his 712th assignment when Zoe mentioned she wanted to "work too" at the table.

She's in the creative arts program and the future President of the Ima Really Smarta Sorority. 

She wanted to name me Elvisah

Everyone has two parents.  Sometimes, if the child is fortunate, they have more than just their two parents that love them.  I'm one of those fortunate people.  Most of my family is of no blood relation to me.  They are my family by my design. 

One of those people is Lily.  She is like an honorary mom to me.  Growing up she was our roommate, but the relationship is much more than that.  When I was little she was simply "bud".  Which is the best way to describe our relationship.  She was my buddy.  She taught me the fun of being in a car and going down a hill really fast until you lost your tummy.  She taught me how to throw a softball.  She was my leader in youth group.  Her personality complimented my mom.

I got the best of having two parents, even if it wasn't considered "the norm."  Lily brought a carefree-ness to life.  She was my ally when my mom insisted we stop at another fabric store on any road trip.  Consequently, both Lily and I have been bitten by the quilting bug.  She used to make me a single serving of cookie dough when I needed a sugar fix.  It is still, to this day, one of my fondest memories from my childhood.  She'd make a little batch of cookie dough.  We'd split it.  Then she'd watch Grease with me for the 700th time.  Or, if it was August, an Elvis movie marathon!

Today is her birthday.  I'm All Shook Up about it.

I hope it's full of Blue Suede Shoes, a Hunk-a-Burning Love from all your friends and family, and maybe a Teddy Bear that hopefully the Post Office didn't mark Return to Sender. 

You have been a part of my life since the day it started and I'm forever grateful.  I know there were times I felt like I was T-R-O-U-B-L-E, but you continued to Love Me Tender.  Thank you for being my Mom2 all these years.  My life was truly blessed by you. 

Don't forget to Rock-A-Hula Baby today.  You're only the speed limit once!  Love you!

I no longer have an excuse

They say that daughters will eventually turn into their mothers.  That never really bothered me because I think my mom is totally cool.  I actually wished I was more like her.

I always equated with being like her to her personality.  She's compassionate so I hoped I would one day be compassionate too.  I never thought it would translate into hobbies or interests.

But it has my friends, it has.

My mom is a closet home ec teacher.  It was actually her desire to be a home ec teacher at one point.  She loves to sew, quilt and anything crafty.  While I was growing up I had no desire whatsoever to do anything crafty.  I think part of it was so I wouldn't be like my mom, but also because she's so good at it that I always knew I'd never be able to be that good.  I picked tap dancing (something she'd never try) and called it good.

Then 2009 happened.  I'm turning into my mother.

For my birthday she bought me a new sewing machine.  You would've thought I had won the lotto.  I was jumping and at a loss for words.  There may have even been a tear of joy.  We've been doing so much sewing and quilting this year, she thought I could use an upgrade.

Because I am truly enjoying all things sewing related, I knew I needed to get serious about my new hobby.  I needed to embrace the fact that I'm becoming my mother in the course of 9 months.

So I organized a closet in our house.  It's my new craft space.  Everything is portable.  I have a table that fits under the bed in that room and a chair that I can wheel in whenever the hum of the machine calls out to me. 

Isn't it so pretty...

and clean...

and magical...

and functional?

I love it.  Sometimes I walk into that room and just stare at it.  It completes a piece of my soul that I have been ignoring for too long.

I even took space behind the door for my cutting mats.

I'm secretly hoping we get another 77 inches of snow.  I'm wishing for that reason to have time cooped up in the house with nothing to do but create.

Now my mom and I can quilt at my house too.  We've both got grand ideas for this closet of mine.

I couldn't think of a better reason to spend time with my clone.

Everything is better with friends

Part of our post-bath routine is to make some popcorn and watch a cartoon.  Typically, when Zoe is getting her lotion on, she'll yell from her room for the other parent and say "popcorn please!"

Last bath night she yelled for daddy and said, "Mickey doll please."  Daddy brought it into her and then she asked for some popcorn.

As we were leaving her room, she grabbed her blanket.

As we turned on some cartoons, this is what was on the couch.

She made sure Mickey was covered with her blanket too. 

She'll have the pink Craftsman tools please

It's safe to say that Zoe is 100% a daddy's girl.  If he's anywhere in her vicinity, she will yell for him to be part of whatever she is doing. 

There is nothing cuter than seeing your daughter completely, 100% in love with her daddy.

Anytime N is doing something involving tools, she's in the mix.  The girl loves tools.  I think, if I let her, she'd wear a toolbelt every day.

When N had to change the oil in my car, Zoe was in the mix.  She put on her polka-dot rain boots and was ready for some oil changing action.  What makes it even better is she can't quite say oil.  It comes out more like "oh-el" instead.  It's one of my favorite things to make her say over and over.

First daddy took out some plug and let the oil drip into a pan.  Zoe watched, letting daddy know it was still dripping.  Every 5 seconds she'd say "still going." 

Because you can only hear "still going" about 15 times before you have to find something else for her to say, it was time to move onto the air filter.  She ran into the house to get her screwdriver (one that has a removeable bit).  She couldn't wait to unscrew things under the hood.  She LOVES all things dirty.

She's still all girl because she takes time out of all the screwdriving to pose for the camera.

She was having the time of her life. 

Next up is learning to change the filter on the heater.  She has to earn her keep!

That sound...

Yesterday morning was a good day.  I had gotten a good night's sleep and actually woke up refreshed.  With as hectic as our lives are, waking up refreshed is a little bit like winning the lotto.

I had stopped by Starbucks to spend part of my birthday gift card and head to work.  The lady at Starbucks made me a venti mocha instead of a grande.  It was like I won the lotto a second time that morning.  Extra coffee for free!  You cannot beat that.

Then, as I was stopped at a red light, getting ready to take a sip of my bigger, free coffee I saw it in my rearview mirror.  The silver Camaro going a bit too fast.  The driver didn't realize we were stopped, about a block before the light.  The light had turned green, but traffic hadn't started moving forward.

It's in that split second that you realize what's about to happen and you brace for it.  Then I saw the driver behind me turn his head getting ready for impact.

Then I heard that sound.  The sound of metal crunching other metal.  He rear-ended me.  I'm not sure what it is about that sound, but it sends shivers down my back.  It's the only thing I remember about being hit.  I don't remember being jarred or my soup can flying from the seat.  All I can remember is that sound.  In my case the sound was worse than the damage to my car.  Which is like winning the lotto for the third time. 

What I think is most fascinating about accidents is how people handle them.  Despite the fact that I was in shock and had more adrenaline pumping through my veins than I've had since my first ride on Malibu Madness at California Adventure, I was fine.  I actually felt sorry for the guy.  I've done the exact same thing before.  It sucks and you feel horrible.

He was actually mad.  He apologized and asked if I was okay, but then he was mad.  His car had a few scratches, but not real damage either.  Which was God protecting both of us.  

There was quite a bit of bad about the situation, but I still had about a grande's worth of coffee (the rest was on the dash), wasn't bleeding or really injured, our cars have more cosmetic issues than anything more serious and we both have insurance.  He will probably have higher premiums if that huge dent by his back tire is any indication of how he normally drives.  All that is fixable. 

As we left, he told me he hoped the rest of my day turned out better.  He had a bitterness to his voice.  I told him that I wished the same for him.  I'm not sure where all his anger and bitterness came from.  We're human, we make mistakes.  I just hope that his day today is better.  That he has some joy in it. 

Today, with a slight stiff neck, I'm taking my car in for an estimate.  I feel more of the effects today than I did yesterday, but it's a good day.  Me and my coffee arrived this morning in tact.  God made sure of that.  Just like He did yesterday and He will tomorrow.

Maybe tomorrow I'll get more free coffee. 

A girl can always hope!

The pirate that turns my heart to mush

I've been wanting to upgrade my camera for sometime in order to take better pictures and different styles of shots.  Because those digital SLR cameras cost about as much as my first car, I thought I'd play around with my point and shoot to see what I could do with all the different settings.

Of course I have a willing subject.  Anytime Zoe sees the camera come out, she immediate says "cheese."  It's now accompanied with a pained look on her face.

She wanted me to start with her pirate face.

ARG Matey!

About 200 shots later, I got the natural smile I was going for.

That smile gets me every time.  She knows it's my kryptonite.

I seriously could watch her do just about anything and my heart gets to the point of bursting.  I never thought I would fall in love with all her little movements and every day mannerisms. 

I would have 700 more of her if I could.  Her personality is as big as her heart.